FDA approves marketing of portable head-injury scanning device

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration recently allowed the marketing of the first device to be developed that can aid in the detection of life-threatening bleeding in the skull.

The machine, called the Infrascanner Model 1000, can be used by healthcare providers to identify the severity of head trauma when an immediate brain imaging study is needed.

"While patients with suspected brain injuries routinely receive a CT scan, this portable device offers emergency room physicians a non-invasive mechanism to aid in assessing whether an immediate CT scan is needed," said Christy Foreman, director of the Office of Device Evaluation at FDA’s Center for Devices and Radiological Health.

According to data compiled by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), head injuries caused by contact with objects and equipment lead to 15,000 occupational injuries in 2010.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requires employers to provide workers with personal protective equipment, which includes ensuring the use of safety products, such as hard hats, that can help protect workers from traumatic brain injuries.